Freeports row sees MSP Greer criticised

A GREENS MSP has been accused of “shocking” disloyalty to his constituents after calling for a Clyde freeport bid to be rejected.

West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer has submitted a motion at Holyrood, insisting the parliament “opposes plans for the Clyde green freeport, and all other Scottish freeport bids”.

But the Scottish Conservatives have labelled the move “astonishing” and will be tabling an alternative motion backing the freeport attempt.

Two freeports are set to be set-up in Scotland, offering tax breaks for traders in designated areas who prove they are contributing to net zero goals.

A host of areas across Scotland have submitted bids, with two areas set to be designated north of the border.

In his motion, Mr Greer has stressed that previous freeport schemes “resulted in jobs being relocated from other regions into areas where employers can avoid paying a fair share of tax”, meaning new jobs were not created in total.

He pointed to “failed” enterprise zones set up in Clydebank and Inverclyde in the 1980s, which Mr Greer said “saw both areas remain among those with the highest unemployment, despite attracted a large number of businesses”.

Scottish Tory MSP for Glasgow region, Sandesh Gulhane, said: “This is an astonishing motion for a West of Scotland MSP to propose and it shows how out of touch Ross Greer and the Scottish Greens are.

“If the Clyde bid was one of the two Scottish one to be chosen for freeport status it would provide a massive boost to the economy of Glasgow and the surrounding area, attracting inward investment and creating jobs.”

In response, Mr Greer said: “Freeports are a failed Tory gimmick that have no place in Scotland.”